A vehicle alignment assistance device which enables a towing vehicle to be aligned with a trailer in such a manner that the towing ball at the rear of the vehicle will be vertically aligned with the towing socket attached to the trailer. A visible target is located at the forward end of an extendable rod located within a box to be attached to the front of the trailer. A sighting mark is located on the rear window of the towing vehicle. When the target-carrying member (rod) is extended from the box so that the target is in contact with the sighting mark on the towing vehicle, the towing socket will be vertically aligned with the towing ball. A driver of the vehicle backs the vehicle toward the trailer until the target carried at the end of the extended rod touches the sighting mark on the rear window. The rod can be pivotally mounted in the box, which can provide a waterproof storage for the rod when not in use as an alignment aid.

A guide to aid in attaching a vehicle to a trailer. A hitch guide is comprised of a cross member 20, a forward member 30 adjustably attached to cross member 20 mounted substantially perpendicular to cross member 20. Forward member 30 has a second cross member 40 adjustably attached thereto. Second cross member 40 is mounted perpendicular to forward member 30 and thus substantially parallel to cross member 20. A wire 22 can be provided on cross member 20 to be located directly underneath the ball of the hitch. Forward member 30 is then adjusted to touch the oustide of wheel 62 and the towing vehicle is moved backwardly until wheel 62 just touches the second cross member 40.

An optical target system is provided for facilitating a vehicle operator's effecting alignment of the respective hitch assembly components of a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle. The system includes first and second targets that are removably positionable in referencing relationship to respective ones of the hitch assembly components and a viewing mirror that is removably positionable on the towed vehicle to provide the vehicle operator positioned in the towing vehicle with a reflected view of the two targets. Each of the two targets includes a longitudinal guidance element that is disposed in alignment with the longitudinal axis of its respective vehicle and a transverse guidance element that is transversely oriented to the respective longitudinal guidance element and located above the hitch assembly component to provide a visual reference to a vertical axis extending through those components.

Apparatus and methods especially useful for the alignment of trailer hitch components by an unaided individual are described. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a visual guide attached to the top of a mast which is mounted in an angularly adjustable mast mount on the winch strut of a trailer, and a target mounted on the rear of a towing vehicle, visible to the driver. The position of the visual guide is pre-adjusted so the visual guide strikes or nearly strikes the target on the towing vehicle when the trailer hitch components are aligned. The target and mast are then removed, or placed in a stowed position for towing. When alignment is again desired the target, mast and mast mount are returned to the pre-adjusted position, and the driver of the towing vehicle uses the pre-adjusted position of the visual guide to guide maneuvering of the towing vehicle to align the trailer hitch components.

A device for guiding alignment in trailer hitching with a trailer cup attachment and a towing vehicle attachment. The trailer cup attachment adjustably clips over the trailer cup on the drawbar of the trailer. The trailer cup attachment has at least one vertical rod and an alignment indicator equipped with guide lights and a sound generator to indicate when the ball on the towing vehicle is in hitching position relative to the trailer cup. The towing vehicle attachment has a mounting base for removable temporary mounting on the towing vehicle. Telescoping rods are rotatably mounted in the mounting base. At the end of the telescoping rods is a fluorescent colored activating ball which is positioned directly above the tow ball on the towing vehicle. The alignment guide and activating ball are positioned to be visible to the operator of the towing vehicle through a rear view mirror, rear window, or the like. As the towing vehicle backs toward the trailer, the activating ball and alignment guide provide immediate visual feedback to the operator of the towing vehicle, so that angle and speed of the backing vehicle may be accordingly adjusted. When the activating ball touches the alignment guide, a red light comes on and a sound is generated. This tells the operator of the towing vehicle that the tow ball is in hitching position relative to the trailer cup. The operator may then leave the vehicle and complete the hitching process.